*From the Ohio State Bar Association website (www.ohiobar.org)*:

Columbus attorney Doug Rogers received the John C. and Ginny Elam Pro Bono Award from Supreme Court of Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor at the Ohio State Bar Association Annual Convention in Columbus. The award recognizes and encourages exceptional pro bono legal work in the state of Ohio.

Rogers was nominated in recognition of his major pro bono contributions to Ohio State Legal Services Association, the Ohio Poverty Law Center, Southeastern Ohio Legal Services

[all three programs are grantees of OLAF], and the Legal Aid Society of Columbus as a volunteer attorney tackling foreclosure defense cases and the related issues that affect homeowners nationwide, as well as a number of other litigation topics, including electronic discovery.

Before joining Ohio State Legal Services Association as a full-time volunteer at the end of 2008, Rogers was a deputy disability director from July to November 2008 for the Obama campaign. He had taken this post following his retirement as partner in the Columbus law firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, where he focused his practice on trademark and copyright law.

Interestingly, Rogers’ career started in public interest work, including work as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, the Director at Ohio Legal Rights Service and the executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Columbus.

Rogers has been a tireless, selfless and thoughtful volunteer committed to helping advocates in finding ways to attack the foreclosure problem in Ohio. His volunteer work has directly helped Southeastern Ohio Legal Service save homes for many clients, including elderly and disabled homeowners who would not otherwise be able to represent themselves adequately. Despite his status as a volunteer retired attorney, he regularly puts in hours well-beyond a 40-hour work week.

The level of Rogers’ commitment and dedication to his pro bono work now goes far beyond just foreclosure defense, as he has taken on additional issues such as the right to counsel in adoption cases.

According to Rogers, “This is why I came back to legal services! This is what I wanted to do!”

The Elam pro bono award was named in memory of John C. Elam, who exhibited an abiding interest in encouraging lawyers and law firms to engage in pro bono activities, and also generously donated his own time and talents to many activities promoting the common good and helping to ensure the justice system is available to all. To honor his memory, his wife, Ginny Elam, established the award to encourage such activities by recognizing exceptional pro bono legal work in the state of Ohio.

In addition to receiving a plaque, Rogers also earns the right to designate an organization to receive a $5,000 grant for service that furthers the intent of the Elam award. Rogers has chosen the Ohio State Legal Services Association to receive the $5,000 from the John and Ginny Elam Family Fund of the Columbus Bar Foundation in his name.